Im afitness editorwho has never taken a hotyogaclass.
I still cant decide if thats impressive or shameful, since its my job to try new workouts.
Lets talk really quickly about what hot yoga actually means.
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Hot usually means over 100 degrees.
Heated is more like a power Vinyasa [class].
Founder Bikram Choudhurystarted Bikram yogain 1972 in San Francisco.
Choudhury taught yoga in Japan and used space heaters to warm up the cold room.
you’re free to now find Bikram studios worldwide.
By 2016,six more womenhad filed lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.
He filed for bankruptcy in November 2017 after racking up $16.7 million in legal judgments,Reutersreported.
I dont get itbut I know there are reasons so many are dedicated to the sweaty, sticky practice.
Plenty of people claim that hot yoga is detoxifying.
Sadly, it really doesnt work that way.
(If only.)
There just isnt an evidence base to support that, Matthews says.
Sweating in an extra hot yoga studio isnt going to make those organs work better.
As for weight loss?
Sweat does not equal number of calories expended, Matthews says.
This is a misconception that goes far beyond just yoga, she adds.
It’s better than any drug.
Some people also just like that its hard, Matthews says.
I can relate to this.
Its true that its best tostretch your muscleswhen theyre warm.
Thats why you should do a general warm-up before flexibility training.
Youre essentially doing that in hot yoga, since youre stretching in the heat.
She also cautions not to stretch past your limits.
The difference with hot yoga is that the exercise is less intense and the heat is external.
The outcome tends to be the same in terms of overall temperature.
What could make it concerning is the humidity in the room.
Whenever youre working out in a hot and humid environment, we have huge concerns, Slivka says.
The best way to protect yourself is to listen to your body and use your best judgment.
Theres a lot of individual variation there.
If you feel hot and lightheaded, take a break and rest on your mat.
If you dont feel better quickly, you should probably stop, Slivka suggests.
This can help reduce the risk of overheating.
Most subjects did not drink very much either.
Slivkas suggestion about listening to your body rings true here, too.
Drink when you feel thirsty, and dont force yourself to chug water just because you think you should.
Bottom line: Start slow, listen to your body, and drink when youre thirsty.
The more you do hot yoga, the better your body will be able to tolerate the heat.
Thats good news for hot yoga devoteeswhich I probably dont think Ill ever be.
